Paper clip cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips. The cartridge includes an elongated hollow body member having at least one open end, a paper clip retainer attached to the body member for blocking at least one open end and removable for unblocking at least one open end thereby conditioning the cartridge for use in a paper clip dispenser and side wall extensions on the body member providing space to permit paper clips to be removed from the body member and pivoted substantially perpendicular relative to the paper clips in the body member.

Greb

[ Nov. 18, 1975 PAPER CLIP CARTRIDGE Kenneth W. Greb, l8 Stanford Drive, Homer, NY. 13077 Nov. 5, 1973 [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

211 App]. No; 413,188

52] user ..221/19s;294/33 51 1m.c1. ..B65H1/12 581 Field ofSearch 221/197, 198,287,232,

221/279; 206/338, 340, 348; 53/390; 29/212 P; 312/42, 71, 35; 294/16, 33; 24/263 PC, 263 PJ, 263 SB 3,115,991 12/1963 Carew et a1. 221/198 3,170,596 2/1965 Nyberg 221/197 X 3,422,989 l/1969 Long 221/198 X 3,672,738 6/1972 Buttriss 29/212 R X 3,701,558 10/1972 Baker 294/33 3,711,905 1/1973 Eckerdt et a1. 294/87 R x Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska [57 I ABSTRACT A cartridge for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips. The cartridge includes an elongated hollow body member having at least one open end, a paper clip retainer attached to the body member for blocking at least one open end and removable for unblocking at least one open end thereby conditioning the cartridge for use in a paper clip dispenser and side wall extensions on the body member providing space to permit paper clips to be removed from the body member and pivoted substantially perpendicular relative to the paper clips in the body member. v

.1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures US; Patent N0'v. 18, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,920,150

U.S. Patent- Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,920,150

US. Patent N0v.18,1975 Sheet3of3 3,920,150

PAPER CLIP CARTRIDGE BACKGROUND oF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paperclip cartridge and more particularly-to a cartridge adapted to be inserted into a paper clip dispenser forsupplying the dispenser with a plurality of paper clips.

A cartridge for fasteners for use in a fastener drivin apparatus is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,672,738, issued to A.-T. Buttriss on June 27, .1972. The Buttriss cartridge differs from the present cartridge in that the Buttriss cartridge hasone end of a hollow body member enclosed with a removable fastener retainer and has the other end permanently enclosed with the exception of a small aperture to permit fluid under pressure to pass therethrough for advancing the fasteners out of the cartridge. v I

.The present cartridge :has a paper clip retainer attached to a hollow body member for enclosing a forward open end and a rearward open end. The retainer may be removed for opening both .ends for conditioning the cartridge for use in the paper clip dispenser. The rearward open end is for permitting a leaf spring to extend within the interior of the body member for advancing the paper clips out of the forward open end. Therefore the present cartridge structured for use in a paper clip dispenser differs from the Buttriss cartridge which is structured for use in a fastener driving apparatus.

A storing means for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips is shown in US. pat. No. 2,611,674, issued to H. W. Kruse on Sept. 23, 1952.

The storing means is supported inside the dispenser along with a paper clip magazine from which one clip at a time may be dispensed. The dispenser is reloaded by transferring the paper clips from the storing means onto the magazine by gravity when the storing means is in alignment with the magazine. This method of loading the dispenser has a disadvantage in that transferring the paper clips from the storingmeans onto the magazine requires especially careful handling of loosely stored paper clips. If the storing means is not accurately aligned with the magazine during the transferring process, the paper clips will. not slide onto the magazine or the paper clips could easily be spilled.

Another means for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2;,939,6 l 9,-issued to R. Levesque on June 7, 1960. This means is inserting a stack of glued paper clips over a holder which is pivotably assembled inside the dispenser. Using glue to stack a plurality of paper clips has several disadvantages such as: consistently applying a predetermined amount of glue on each stackof paper clips would be difficult; breaking each paper clip away from the others requires an undesirable additional de- I SUMMARY oF THE INVE TIO I The present paper clip cartridge has an elongated hollow body member supporting a plurality of'paper clips, approximately 75, in a side-by-side relationship.

In one embodiment (FIG. 1), the body member has a forward open end for. exiting paper'clips therefrom and has a rearward openend for permitting a leaf spring to enter within. the interior of the body member for advancing the paper clips out of the forward open end. Two side walls of the body member have abutments extending-slightly beyond bottom and top walls to contact .a surface in a paper clip dispenser thereby leaving clearance for the paper clips to be removed from the 0 cartridge and dispensed from the dispenser by, for example, a pivoting action to pivot the paper clips substantially perpendicular relative to the paper clips in the body member.

A paperclip retainer is attached to the body member by a detenting means for enclosing the forwardopen end and the rearward open end. The retainer may be removed from the body member for opening both open ends thereby conditioning the cartridge for use in the paper clip dispenser.

.In a second embodiment (FIG. 7), the body member has a forward open end for exiting paper clips therefrom and has a rearwardintegrally closed end. A leaf springis enclosed within the interior of the body member between the closed end andthe supply of paper clips for advancing the paper clips out of the forward open end. i

A paper clip retainer for the second embodiment is attached to the body member by a detenting means for enclosing the forward open end. The retainer may be removed from the body member for opening the forward open end therebyconditioning the cartridge for use in the paper clip dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the cartridge of the present invention. I

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cartridge showing the open rearward end with the paper clip retainer removed;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the paper clip retainer.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view showing the detent means for removably attaching the paper clip retainer to the cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a paper clip dispenser with the cover in an open position, the cartridge and spring inserted and the retainer removed.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the paper clip dispenser with the cover in the closed position, the cartridge inside and a paper clip projected for removal.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a paper clip cartridge with the leaf spring and the paper clips therein.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partially sectioned perspective view of the paper clip retainer attached to the bod member of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT wall 20, a top wall 22, a first side wall 24 and a second side wall 26. An abutment 28 of the first side wall 24 and an abutment 30 of the second side wall 26 extend beyond the forward end of the bottom wall 20 and the top wall 22. The body member 12 has an open forward end 32 (FIG. 1) to permit the paper clips 14 to exit from the body member 12 one at a time from the sideby-side relationship. The body member 12 has an open rearward end 34 (FIG. 2) to permit a leaf spring 36 l FIG. having leaves substantially the same size of the side of the paper clips 14 to enter the interior of the body member 12 for advancing the paper clips 14 out of the open forward end 32.

The paper clip retainer 16 (FIG. 3) is formed from a resilient and flexible plastic material. The retainer 16 has a connecting portion 40, a back portion 42 for substantially enclosing the open rearward end 34 of the body member 12, a pair of front portions 44 for substantially enclosing the open forward end 32 of the body member 12 and a lift tab 46 formed upward adjacent the front portions 44 for a means to remove the retainer 16 from the body member 12. The retainer 16 has a groove 48 integrally joining the front portions 44 with the connecting portion 40 and has a groove 50 integrally joining the back portion 42 with the connecting portion 40.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the retainer 16 is removably attached on te body member 12 by a detent means formed by a front end 52 of the top wall 22 seating within the groove 48 of the retainer 16 and a back end 54 of the top wall 22 seating within the groove 50 of the retainer 16. Placing the fingers on the body member 12 and lifting the lift tab 46 upward forces the groove 48 over the front end 52 thereby removing the front portions 44 of the retainer 16 from the open forward end .32 of the body member 12. Further lifting of the lift tab 46 forces the groove 50 over the back end 54 thereby removing the back portion 42 of the retainer 16 from the open rearward end 34.

Another paper clip retainer similar to retainer 16 could have a full front portion with a lift tab integrally extending immediately above the front portion and could have a second lift tab integrally extending immediately above the back portion.

Other suitable paper clip retainers for the cartridge of FIG. 2 could be a ribbon, a rubber band or two pieces of adhesive (one for each end).

Referring to FIG. 5, the cartridge is inserted into a paper clip dispenser 60. The dispenser 60 has a means for supporting the cartridge 10 including a base 62 for receiving the cartridge 10 and for receiving the leaf spring 36 and a cover 64 integrally molded with the base 62 by a relatively thin flexible plastic material 65 (often referred to as a living hinge) for closing the dispenser 60. The leaf spring 36 is compressed between the cartridge 10 and a back wall 66 of the dispenser 60. The abutments 28 and 30 of the body member 12 abut against an inside surface 68 ofa front wall 70 of the dispenser 60 to leave a clearance 72 for the thickness of at least one paper clip 14 between the front ends of the bottom wall and top wall 22 and the inside surface 68. The clearance 72 permits each paper clip 14 to be advanced forward out of the body member 12 and to be pivoted substantially perpendicular relative to the body member 12 for projecting the paper clip 14 out of the dispenser 60. The clearance 72 also permits an operable member 74 formed from the cover 64 to pass be- 4 tween the cartridge 10 and the inside surface 68 for pivoting the paper clip 14 to a projected position.

The operable member 74 has an e xtention 75 (FIG. 5) at its free end which seats under a front wall abutment 77 for providing an up stop for the operable member 74. The extension 75 slidably seats in a groove (not shown) in the front wall 70 to prevent interference with the front ends of the bottom wall 20 and the top wall 22 of the cartridge 10 and with the operation of projecting one paper clip 14 at a time from the dispenser 60.

The cover 64 has a latch 76 operable to snap-fit over a latch member 78 on the base 62 for releasably holding the cover 64 in a closed position (FIG. 6). When the cover 64 is in the closed position, an exit opening 80 is formed between the front wall 70 and the cover 64 to allow one paper clip 14 at a time to pass therethrough.

During dispensing of paper clips 14, the body member 12 may drift between the back wall 66 and the front wall 70 of the dispenser 60 without interferring with the dispensing operation.

When the cartridge 10 has been emptied, the cover 64 may be pivoted open, the cartridge 10 and leaf spring 36 (then extending through the body member 12) may be removed, the emptied cartridge discarded and a new cartridge 10 inserted into the base 62. The leaf spring 36 is then compressed and inserted into the base 62, the retainer 16 removed from the body member 12, the cover 64 pivoted to its closed position and the operable member 74 depressed to its seated position (FIG. 6). The dispenser 60 is then supplied with a plurality of paper clips 14 for continued use.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the second embodiment of a cartridge 80 is adapted to be inserted into the same dispenser 60. The cartridge 80 differs from the cartridge 10 by having the leaf spring 36 inside a body member 82 with the paper clips 14.

The body member 82 has a back wall 84, a bottom wall 86, a top wall 88, a first side wall 90, a second side wall 92 and an open forward end 94. The open forward end 94 provides an opening for inserting the spring 36 and the paper clips 14 into the body member 82 and for allowing the spring 36 to advance the paper clips out of the body member 82 to project one paper clip at a time out of the dispenser 60. An abutment 96 of the first side wall and an abutment 98 of the second side wall 92 extend beyond the forward ends of the bottom wall 86 and the top wall 88 for abutting against the inside surface 68 of the front wall 70 of the dispenser 60. The top wall 88 has a slot 100 near the open forward end 94. The bottom wall 86 has a slot 102 near the open forward end 94 and in alignment with the slot 100.

A paper clip retainer 104 (FIG. 8) is adapted to slide through the slot 100 of the top wall 88 and through the slot 102 of the bottom wall 86. The retainer .104 has a first stop 106 and a second stop 108 spaced from the first stop 106. The retainer 104 has a lift tab 110 extending upward.

The cartridge 80 is assembled by inserting the leaf spring 36, compressing the leaf spring by inserting a supply of paper clips 14 (approximately 75) through the open forward end 94 and inserting the retainer 104 through the slots 100 and 102 for holding the paper clips 14 in the body member 82 under tension. The retainer 104 is formed from sufficiently strong plastic to withstand the biasing force of the compressed leaf spring 36. A wall section 112 of the top wall 88 and a wall section 114 of the bottom wall 86 are sufficiently strong to withstand the biasing force transferred to the retainer 104 from the leaf spring 36. The stop 106 cams past the top wall 88 by forcing the wall section 112 slightly away from the retainer 104 for positioning the thickness of the top wall 88 between the stop 106 and the stop 108 thereby providing a detent means for maintaining the retainer 104 attached to the body member 82.

When the cartridge 80 has been emptied, the cover 64 may be opened, the cartridge 80 and leaf spring 36 may be removed and discarded. A new cartridge 80 may be inserted into the base 62, the retainer 104 removed from the body member 82 and the cover 64 pivoted to the closed position. The dispenser 60 is then supplied with a plurality of paper clips 14 for continued use.

If the retainer 16 and the emptied cartridge are saved, the cartridge 10 may be reloaded with loose paper clips and the retainer reassembled, the reassembled cartridge 10 being used for reloading the dispenser. Likewise, with cartridge 80, if the retainer 104, the leaf spring 36 and the emptied cartridge 80 are saved, the cartridge 80 may be reloaded with the leaf spring and with loose paper clips and the retainer reassembled, the reasembled cartridge 80 being used for reloading the dispenser.

It can now be seen that either embodiment of the present paper clip cartridges 10 or 80 provide an efficient means for reloading a paper clip dispenser 60 with a supply of paper clips 14 in a side-by-side relationship for conveniently dispensing one paper clip at a time.

What is claimed is:

l. A cartridge for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips comprising:

an elongated body member adapted to receive a plurality of paper clips therein in a side-by-side relationship, the body member having an opening at one end for exiting paper clips therefrom in the same direction of the side-by-side relationship and having a top wall end at the open one end, the body member having a bottom wall with a slot adjacent the open one end, the top wall has a slot in alignment with the bottom wall slot;

a spring carried by the body member for biasing the paper clips out of the opening of the body member;

a retainer adapted to slide through the slot in the top wall and through the slot in the bottom wall for blocking the open one end to prevent paper clips from exiting therefrom, and the retainer includes integral stop means engageable with one of the top and bottom walls for maintaining the retainer attached to the body member, the retainer being removable from the body member for unblocking the body member opening; and

at least one extension integrally extends from a side wall on the body member beyond the top wall end for providing space to permit paper clips to be advanced out from the body member when the retainer is removed therefrom and to permit paper clips to be pivoted substantially perpendicular relative to the paper clips in the body member whereby the pivoted paper clips may be manually removed from the dispenser. 

1. A cartridge for supplying a paper clip dispenser with a plurality of paper clips comprising: an elongated body member adapted to receive a plurality of paper clips therein in a side-by-side relationship, the body member having an opening at one end for exiting paper clips therefrom in the same direction of the side-by-side relationship and having a top wall end at the open one end, the body member having a bottom wall with a slot adjacent the open one end, the top wall has a slot in alignment with the bottom wall slot; a spring carried by the body member for biasing the paper clips out of the opening of the body member; a retainer adapted to slide through the slot in the top wall and through the slot in the bottom wall for blocking the open one end to prevent paper clips from exiting therefrom, and the retainer includes integral stop means engageable with one of the top and bottom walls for maintaining the retainer attached to the body member, the retainer being removable from the body member for unblocking the body member opening; and at least one extension integrally extends from a side wall on the body member beyond the top wall end for providing space to permit paper clips to be advanced out from the body member when the retainer is removed therefrom and to permit paper clips to be pivoted substantially perpendicular relative to the paper clips in the body member whereby the pivoted paper clips may be manually removed from the dispenser. 